Devendra Fadnavis attends Bal Thackeray's memorial event amid BJP-Sena rift

Mumbai : Former Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis was in attendance at an event to mark the death anniversary of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray at Shivaji Park in Mumbai this afternoon. He arrived at the venue after Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aditya Thackeray left. His visit comes at a time when the two parties have broken their relationship after last month's elections.

Devendra Fadnavis left the venue moments after he offered his respects, but did find himself amid the Sena supporters who were shouting in Marathi - "sarkar kunauchi. shiv sena chi (whose government? Shiv Sena's)"

Earlier, on the day, he had shared a written tribute to the Sena founder, writing "salutations to our inspirational source Balasaheb Thackeray on his death anniversary" in Marathi.

Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena's relations were stained after the failed negotiations over power sharing on the Chief Minister's post. A scathing editorial in Sena mouthpiece Saamana on Friday accused its former ally of "horse-trading under the guise of President's Rule".

After their breakup, Maharshtra is witnessing a new mathematics of oppositions joining hand with Shiv Sena to form the government in the state.

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and NCP chief Sharad Pawar have been scheduled to meet on Monday. It is likely that Shiv Sena will join hands with Congress and NCP to form the government on the condition of having a CM on rotational power sharing option.